Piramide

Abstract

Piramide is an early development and education program originally developed in the Netherlands by Cito. Piramide is a guided approach for teachers and parents to create a safe and challenging learning environment for young children from birth to 7 years of age. Its four cornerstones, initiative of the child versus initiative of the teacher and nearness versus distance, are based on Piagetian and Vygotskyan ideas, attachment theory, distancing theory and dynamic systems theory. These four concepts come together in the two major components of Piramide, the relational and the educational component. The objective of Piramide is the optimal and balanced development of the child’s physical, emotional and cognitive intelligence, which is supported and promoted by stimulating its own play and initiative learning and by presenting a series of projects within a sequential framework. The role of the teacher is elaborated into three levels of support and intervention: a low level where children play, explore and learn independently; a middle level where children play, explore and learn together with the teacher; and a high level where the teacher of tutor intensively plays or teaches with the child with special needs or gives high-level feedback to bright children. Jef. J. van Kuyk and his team composed a balanced Piramide approach. How does it work? We will answer that question by outlining our strategies of implementation and by presenting supporting outcomes of intervention studies. Times are changing and Piramide is changing too. So we conclude this chapter by discussing some new and promising developments. They involve updates of materials to meet new developments over time and the way in which we see profesionalizing as an ongoing process.